The Portland daily press., 1887-09-01
Foreign Notes.
cAREssED BY A TIGER.
Wonderful Adventure While Fishing
In an Indian Jungle
lIndian Mirror.1

had left at an early hour In the morning
to fish. While carried my rifle with me. /
had no intention Of golngout Of my way TO
find game. On the previous afternoon OBJ
served what seemed 10 be a capital fishing
spot in bend Of the river, and 1t was to this
place | fastened as left camp. Some OF the
native servants were astlr and saw me set
out, but did not want their services. IL
was pretty thick jungle between the camp
and the bend, but at the bend there was
forest growth and a ledge Of rock for back
ground. As took a look around before sit
ting down on the bank to my sport | re-
marked that it was good spot for wild
beasts, but as there was nothing moving |
set right TO work with my fishing tackle
Catching frog for bait, | flung In the hook,
and il wasn't five minutes before was having
such luck that all thoughts of tigers, snakes
and hyenas were driven out Of my mind.
had landed half dozen gOOd-sized fish,
and was Just then playing larger one, when
a slight noise startled me, and / looked
around to see such sight as has seldom
come to the eyes Of q sportsman. A full
grown tiger was within five feet Of me, play
ing with one of the fish. 10 was the last fish
pulled out, and in its dying agonies il was
jumping about on the grass. Every time 1t
moved the tiger would reach out paw in q
playful way, and once or twice he struck
hard enough to move the fish three or four
feet. / tell you / was a badly frightened
man, and all could do was 10 Sit there with
mouth and eyes wide open. The tiger had
crept down from the bluffs, and why he
hadn't attacked me was almystery. He went
from fish 10 fish, turning them over and over
with his paw, and time again brushing me
with his tail as he msyed about. My rifle
was ten feet away, leaning against a bush,
and might have been idiot enough to try 10
reach II but for warning. My personal
servant had followed me to see what luck
had. He came into the neighborhood while
the tiger was playing with the fish, and, soft
ly climbing tree, he uttered the call Of a
bird that attracted my attention, and then
sDo nothing to provoke the tiger, master,
He is hil0tCeele and II you do not cross him
he will go away"
He meant that the spirit OF good native
had been transformed, and 1t was clearly the
common sense way to follow his advice. AS
the beast gave me no attention, turned 10
the fish tugging at my line and landed him.
He was Of good size and full OF vitality. and
the tiger waited In playful way until ! re-
moved the hook and threw the fish on the
grass. Then he sprang for II as kitten
would for ball OF yarn and he played with
1t In the same way. 1t was laughable, In
spite of the circumstances, to witness his
actions. He would run around in cir
eles, as you have seen young dog do,
almost leaping over me, and then
again he would become the cat and creep
softly forward to pounee upon one Of the fish
Each one as caught was flung to him and Il
was full half-hour before he grew tired Of
the sport. / expected he would turn to me
sooner OF later. but the natiue saw the change
Of demeanOr first and called;
Master, the hiLOl1eele Is going TO play with
you! BE as clay in your power"
The tiger suddenly left the last fish landed
and came stalking up TO me, purring like
cat and acting very playful. His tirst move
was TO worm his head under my left arm, and
/ am telling you the solemn truth when l say
that IsmOOthed down his fur as II he had
been a favOrite dog. had on a big straw
hat, and this he got hold Of in his teeth and
played with for ten minutes, or until he had
torn ii all TO pieces. had no more bait 10
fish with, and drew in the line and sat there
waiting for the tigers next move. When he
had finished the hat he came over and rub
bed against me, and purred In pleasant
way, and rubbed him with my hand from
nose to tail gradually got over my scare,
but was yet very anxious to know how the
| affair would end. The sun was getting well
| up and very hot, and the beast would soon
be seeking his lair. In about thirty minutes
| from the time he appeared the tiger began 10
| show a changed demeanor. He acted nerv-
ols and uneasy and the hair on his back
| stood up at intervals. judged that he had
got the scent OF my servant and such proved
to be the case.
dared not rise to my feet. but made up
my mind that II the tiger attacked me i
should make a spring off the bank into the
river. IL was infested with erOcOdiles, but
there was not much choice between being
eaten by beast or sanrian. Once the tiger
glaIed at me and growled, but next moment
whlned as If afraid, and edged up toward
me as II Tor protection. The servant had
been keeping watchful eye on my strange
playmate, and he now believed the time had
come for decisive action. He therefore
fired his pistOland shouted at the top Of his
voice. The effect was immediate. The beast
dropped his tail, uttered long-drawn whine
and with a sort Of farewell glance at me he
boltsd for the forest and disappeared.